Bait-holder



(No Model.)

J. F. WEBBER.

BAIT HOLDER.

"' Patented Nov. 30, 1897.

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, in front of the back thereof, and these short purpose to which accesscan be readily had inafter and its novel features section.

its rear face adapted to receive a strap or UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

JOHN FRANCIS WEBBER, OF SHERIDAN, WYOMING.

BAIT-HOLDER.

SPEGIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 594,448, dated November30, 1897.

Application filed August 12, 1897.

T0 or whom it may concern:

Beit known that 1, JOHN FRANCIS WEBBER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sheridan, in the county of Sheridan and State of Wyoming,have invented anew and useful Bait-Holder, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to bait-boxes more especially designed for livebait, such as grasshoppers and other insects which are commonly used asbait for fishes; and the object of the invention is to provide a box forthis at all times by the user and which automatically closes itself whenan insect is taken With this object in view the invention consists of abox having a hinged cover comprising a suitable frame upon which anelastic diaphragm is stretched and secured thereto, said diaphragmhaving a dividing slit of sufficient length to permit the insertion ofthe thumb and forefinger of the user.

The invention will be fully described herepointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a bait-box made inaccordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse Fig. 3 isa plan view showing a slight modification.

Similar reference-numerals indicate similar parts in the severalfigures.

1 indicates the box, which may be of sheet metal or any other suitablematerial, the back 2 of which is preferably extended above the hingedcover 3 and provided with a loop 4 on similar device by means of whichthe box can be conveniently supported and carried by the The hingedcover consists of a supporting-frame 5 and a flexible diaphragm 6,stretched across the frame and secured thereto in any suitable manner.The frame 5 will preferablybe made of a single piece of springwire bentto form the front piece 7, which serves as a finger-hold to open thecover, the side'pieces 8, to which the diaphragm 6 is secured, and theshort end pieces 9, which are. seated in loops 10, secured to an arrowstrip 11, which extends across the box immediately Serial No. 648,001.(No model.)

pieces 9 and the loops 1O serve as hinges to connect the cover to thebox. At the junction of the side and front pieces downwardly extendingloops 12 are formed, which serve as spring-catches to engage a bead orflange 13, formed on the upper edge of the front wall of the box.

As shown in Fig. 1, the diaphragm is formed of a single piece of rubbersecured to the sides 8 of the wire frame and of sufficient width toentirely close the open top of the box. The diaphragm is provided with adividing slit (indicated by 14) of sufiicient length to permit thepassage of the thumb and forefinger of a person to the interior of thebox.

In Fig. 3the diaphragm is formedof two separate rubbers (indicated by15) arranged side by side in close proximity to each other, and in thiscase the thumb and forefinger may be easily inserted between them inorder to withdraw the insect from the interior of the box.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided avery simple and efficient bait-box which will securely hold thegrasshoppers and similar insects and prevent their escape therefrom. Atthe same time the fisherman can easily insert his thumb and forefingerthrough the dividing slit in the flexible diaphragm to withdraw aninsect from the box when he may desire to use it, and as soon as thethumb and forefinger are withdrawn the flexible. diaphragm willimmediately close and effectually cover thetop of the box. With abait-box made in accordance with myinvention the fisherman will onlyrequire to use one hand to take the bait from the box, and it will notbe necessary for him to release his hook while extracting the bait fromthe box, as is the case with baitboxes now in general use and especiallywhere insects, such as grasshoppers, are employed for bait.

It will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and theminor details of construction may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A bait-box,having a cover formed of an elastic diaphragm provided with a dividing aWire frame hinged to the box and provided with looking catches, and anelastic diaphragm formed of two pieces of rubber secured to the frameand arranged side by side in close proximity to each other,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN FRANCIS WVEBBER.

Witnesses:

OTTO KITELSIN, A. (J. THOMAS.

